I believe Llumar Diamond 6 is unique where it's a single layer 6mm security film. Most other security film solutions use multi layers, one being the tint and the other the thicker security film, which is not so good in terms of optical clarity.
My view is:
Go with Diamond 6 if you are looking for security films. My only gripe about the Llumar film is it's a little too "greenish" for my taste and I like something just slightly darker. Do note that Llumar Gold and Diamond 6 are about 63% VLT, which when applied to front windscreen is considered JPJ non compliant (needs to be 70% VLT on the fronts). But it'll only show up as "tidak lulus" for the fronts when you do a Puspakom inspection else, it's visually not very dark. Cost price for Llumar Diamond 6 sides and Gold front and rear for a sedan should be around RM1,850 from Llumar dealers.
If you are not going for security films the option becomes much wider.
1) Consider how dark you want to tint your windows. Each brand has strengths for certain VLT ranges. For e.g. 3M crystalline is known to have peeling issues on the hardcoat for Crystalline 40 in the past, and Huper Optik Ceramic series are good only for the X3 range i.e. C40, C30 and not C50, C60 or C70.
2) Choose your fav tint color which matches your car. I don't like greenish or reflective films but that is a personal choice. I like deep hues which are not reflective but not blackout tints which I find rather "cheap" looking.
3) Look for optical clarity esp for front windscreen. Better quality higher end films are not as cloudy and have better optical clarity. There are a few major/reputable tint manufacturers with good optical clarity:
- Llumar
- 3M
- Southwall Technologies (Vkool and Huper Optik)
- EcoTint (Korean/Japanese I think)
4)Don't be deceived by the TSER or IRR stats, as TSER readings depends on angle of measurement and many of the IRR figures are based on a narrow IR bandwidth spectrum instead of a wider spectrum to achieve higher readings. Unfortunately there is no standards in place to get true consistency between manufacturer claims/statistics in terms of how the measurements are taken. Also many tints suffer for Heat Soak diminishing performance, i.e. it absorbs/blocks out heat well for the first 1 - 5 mins then, diminish in performance in heat rejection once the glass/tint is heat soaked. So to do the hand feel test against the IR bulb test at tint shops make sure the IR lamp is switched on for 5 mins against the test glass surface and then feel the heat rejection with your hands. Better tints have more consistent heat rejection properties and not affected by heat soak issues.
My experience:
I have used Vkool Elite, Huper Optik Ceramic and 3M crystalline and my conclusion is:
Vkool is a dated technology, and is prone to demetalizing after 5 years and has issues with handphone, gate card access and remote signals, and keyless entry signals. I also don't fancy the reflective greenish color as it looks a bit "old skool".
Huper Optik has the best 60% VLT film (Sech 60) in terms of optical clarity, and not prone to heat soak issues unlike Ceramic 70 or even 3M Crystaline 60. Its the best film for the front windscreen IMHO at 60% VLT and looks great. Side windows will have to go with C40 which is actually 43% VLT and less dark vs. other 40% VLT films such as 3M Crystalline 40 which I find to be too dark. Wife's car is on Sech60 fronts and C40 sides + rear. Color looks good, dark greenish brown.
3M Crystalline is a lovely colored film (greyish brown) for CR60, CR50 but I find CR60 having issues with heat soak and is not as optically clear vs. Sech60. CR40 has excellent heat rejection but I find a little too dark for my taste, and early batches of CR40 had peeling issues on the hardcoat. My car is currently on CR60 fronts, CR50 sides and CR40 for the pana roof. It's also more gate access card friendly vs. Huper Optik C40.
In summary I am happy with 3M crystaline for the CR50 performance, and color, but slightly dissapointed with CR60's performance due to heat soak (same issues I had with Huper C70). Huper Optik Sech60 is excellent but I prefer the color of the 3M CR50 vs. Huper C40. Heat rejection properties is very similar for 3M CR50 vs. Huper C40 although Huper is darker. If I were to tint my next car I think I'll go with Huper Optik Sech60 fronts with C40 sides. 3M CR60 and CR50 will be a very close 2nd option. I am not daring enough to go with 3M CR50 all around as it may attract cops stopping my car cos the fronts is too dark.
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